You have bipolar disorder, and so did your mother and her father, plus other relatives. You're worried about whether your child will inherit bipolar disorder. Will a specialized eye exam someday be able to help predict whether your child will develop BP? A new study reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggests that this may be possible.At the back of the eye is the retina, which contains two types of light sensors called rods and cones. Rods see black and white and are important for sight in low light conditions and for peripheral vision. Cones see color. Although researchers already knew that retinal anomalies were detected in people diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the effects of the illness and use of medication for it made those findings no good for research purposes.
In this study, researchers examined the retinas of healthy young adults who were at high risk for developing BP or schizophrenia and compared them with a control group whose families did not have a history of those illnesses. They found that in the high risk group, the ability of light to activate the rods was significantly reduced. There was no difference in the cones' responses between the two groups.
The identification of a possible new biomarker for BP is exciting. The study's authors concluded that this particular response of the retina's rods may be an "early and specific biomarker of risk" that may help in future genetic testing and prevention research.
Does a diminished response of the rods lead to perceptual problems in BP and schizophrenia? It's possible. DNA quoted Dr. John Krystal, editor of Biological Psychiatry, as saying, "It is important to appreciate that for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as for colour-blindness or selective hearing loss, people who appear to perceive the world normally may actually have subtle but important problems with perception, which may contribute to other adaptive impairments." Do you think this relates to you?
~Marcia
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It’s interesting to wonder if we who have these disorders see colors the same as other people do. I see colors slightly differently between my two eyes. I think it would be terrific to have some way of physically diagnosing these disorders in children, so parents could be prepared for what lies ahead, and even treat in preparation of symptoms manifesting.
This is interesting because I have bipolar disorder and my night vision is significantly impaired as compared to my day vision. My guess is that is has something to do with sensitivity to a lack of light rather than perceptual differences. Three days without sun and my mood takes a decided shift downwards.
This report really is interesting to me. I have problems seeing in the dark and problems driving at night, as early as 16 years old. Seeing certain colors compared to my husband and kids differently; I see reds as sometimes orange, blue is black, some blues are teal to me but not to others. I was diagnosed BP a few years ago.
This is so strange cuz I have always had this strong suspecion that my eyes were different from peoples. My teachers used to ask me about them. What I notice is a lack of response to light and the pupil. Just curious if anyone else does too? Get a non bp friend and stand in the same room next to each other in front of a mirror and see whose pupils are bigger. Almost always the bp person has much bigger pupils.
They say “the eye is the window to the soul…”
Maybe there is “more than meets the eye” here.
Okay, let me stop- there are soooo many sayings about the eye…
I am considering doing a series of paintings solely on the eye because of the symbolism plus I just find eyes fascinating!
Have you noticed how many flecks of different colors there are in the iris, for example?
What a stupid comment to post, this has nothing to do with the article and belongs in an artist forum. Honestly what does this post have to do with Bipolar illness?
Very interesting article. My friend was recently diagnosed with bipolar disease and I’ve always wondered what she saw as she wears sunglasses most the time. Her eyes are very sensitive to light. To better understand what she is going through, I picked up a book called “bipolar bare”. It’s a memoir of a man who describes the extreme highs and lows of the disorder and has concluded it’s a gift from God.
This stunned me. Up until a few years ago, I could go out in the sun, and in fact, have sun damage in my eyes due to doing just that as a kid. Dad was a fisherman, and we all went with him and stayed out as long as the sun shined. Last few years though, I have been unable to go out with a lot of light without having my shades. Yesterday I made my husband wait to drive off until I had my sunglasses on. He said, “Do you really need them!” and was a bit annoyed because it was less than an hour away from dark, and I got annoyed right back, because he knows I am light sensitive now. He can’t see good at night, and I can see better than him then, so that’s strange, but I must have my sunglasses on if there is any chance of glare. I am often getting migraines because I have forgotten my glasses. Yet another thing I learn daily since my diagnosis less than a year ago…
I have BP I. Often when I am starting to trend hypomanic or manic, my friends notice I have really, really dilated pupils – in fact it seems that is one of the few obvious signs that outsiders pick up on which reliably distinguishes such a mood shift from being “just happy”, “just excited”, drunk, etc. So, this kind of research into light sensitivity in psychosis is very interesting….
i’ve read that the rods of people with bipolar disorder are similar to those of hibernating animals. They believe that people with Northern pre-ancestors had to spend lots of down time during the winter and so became drowsier so that they could handle jus t hanging out in their caves waiting for Spring. So the light reacting to the rods in their eyes are what triggered their decrease in energy. Then when Spring came and they received more light, their energy was returned to them.
I found the article very interesting myself. I have been struggling with what I feel is bi-polar since I was twenty or so. I am now 38 and the illness has now in the last few years really bite down hard on me. What I had thought been a seemingly unrelated issue,,, obviously isn’t… In the last five years or so I had noticed an ever increasing sensitivity to light and also reduced depth perception in the shade or low light. I find myself having to wear shades to avoid a massive headache, but in doing so it hampers my sight enough to become a problem. My vision is 20/20, but I can headaches as well from straining to see in the lower light. I am definitely looking into this connection a lot closer. Thank you.
Hello,
I would like to understand why I can see my former brain injury or bipolar brain now in the eyes of other individuals. After 3 years on a natural supplement that increased my cells OWN GSH or glutathione my symptoms of bp are gone or easily eradicated with a simple product. Unfortunately it is only meant for those with Mental Wellness in mind. The product is simple and effective without side effects. The Science is documented over the last 125 years but make a reality with Dr. Robert Keller/Dr. Herbert Nagasawa. Easy way to check is Pubmed. gov where there are 100,000 peer reviewed articles on GSH which is why we have oxidative stress in our cells. Oxidative stress is DISEASE. Cleaning out the free radicals with more GSH is possible. Sounds to good to believe….well I was told to do my due diligence and I did. Just google glutathione and mental illness and your sure to get other non medical opinions. Either way the product works on anyone with a brain cell….Thank you for listening….Jacquie
I am35 bipolar I my eyes are very sensitive to light. I do not go anywhere without sunglasses. People do not like this. They seem to think I am hiding something. They just do not seem to understand. Now I don’t feel so alone.